Any new graduate wanting to learn about how companies should handle tough public policy questions should study how the energy companies have responded to Ed Miliband's proposal to freeze utility prices in his party conference speech three weeks ago. Their actions and comments have been a masterclass in how to make a difficult situation worse. We have had a mixture of denial ("they'll never get elected", "he didn't really mean it", "the lawyers will stop him"), mindless abuse ("I don't think people want to live under Stalinism") and fear tactics which usually mention the prospect of the lights going out. No one in the industry has bothered to think about why Mr Miliband's comments have proven so popular. Continue reading » | 
